WHAT CAUSES DRUG ADDICTION?
People use drugs for many reasons, such as:
- curiosity or experimentation
- desire to be part of a group
- a sense of relaxation and pleasurable euphoria
- numbing effect that helps to ease physical or emotional pain.
It is not likely that anyone begins using a drug with the intention of becoming addicted. However, the very qualities that lead to use are in themselves addictive. In addition, addiction results in painful withdrawal symptoms when stopped suddenly, providing another incentive to continue using.
The medical causes of addiction are not fully known. Researchers can only state with assurance that the repeated use of drugs can bring about dramatic changes in both the structure and the function of the brain in destructive ways that can result in compulsive drug use.
The most recent scientific research speculates that some people may be more prone to addiction than others and that there may be genes that predispose certain people to addiction. However, an even more important factor in the cause of addiction may be social circumstances, which include:
- poor self image
- emotional distress
- patterns of use in the addict's family or subculture
- pressure from peers
- advertising or media influence
- easy access.
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